Fred Sidney Griffis

Florida Department of Corrections — Tallahassee, FL

Veteran → Veteran → Felonious

End of Watch June 24, 1987

Age 40

Tour of Duty 1 yrs

The Vigil Panel 132 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Military Department 32

Incident

Correctional Officer Fred Griffis was shot and killed during an escape attempt during a prisoner transport in West Palm Beach. He and an armed escort officer were jumped by two armed suspects in front of a doctor's office on North Olive Avenue, near Palm Beach Lakes Boulevard. The men disarmed the armed officer and demanded that Officer Griffis hand over the keys to unlock the van and free the prisoner. Officer Griffis did not comply and instead tossed the keys away. When he tossed the keys the suspect shot and killed him. Both suspects were apprehended after a chase in which they fired at pursuing officers. The man who shot Officer Griffis was apprehended and sentenced to death. He died in prison on July 17th, 1999, from injuries he suffered while fighting guards who were attempting to search his cell. The other subject was also sentenced to death and was executed on June 12th, 2013. Officer Griffis was a U.S. Army veteran who served three tours during the Vietnam War. He was decorated seven times for bravery, including four Bronze Stars and three Oak Leaf clusters, all given for heroism. An Army Ranger and expert rifleman, he was cited twice for saving the lives of fellow soldiers. Officer Griffis had been assigned to the Glades Correctional Institution for three weeks after retiring from the military.

Survivors

He had previously worked at the facility for one year prior to his time in the military He was survived by his mother and sister.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-FL-250E7733
Stewardship: Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw: August 2, 2026
Last updated: August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Tributes

I served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Correctional Officer Griffis gave the Florida Department of Corrections 1 year.
Thank you for your service to the people of Florida, and for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Department Florida Department of Corrections

Type Corrections

Location Tallahassee, FL

Platform Identity fdcorr.leon.fl.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch June 24, 1987

Tour of Duty 1 yrs

Age 40

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Gun

Military Service

Fred Sidney Griffis served in the U.S. Army (1966) before joining law enforcement.

View full service record on salute.nw →

Correctional Officer Fred Sidney Griffis is one of 1 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,759 officers honored here.

In FL, 539 of 1,008 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 53.5% of this state's fallen. That is 53.5 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

At Florida Department of Corrections, 11 of 33 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 33.3% of this agency's fallen.

Florida Department of Corrections

of 33 officers

33.3% Felonious

FL — Statewide

539

of 1,008 officers

53.5% Felonious

Nationwide

of 97,759 officers

0% Felonious